Method and apparatus for indicating registration in a rotary multicolor printing machine



3,015,266 ION IN Jan. 2, 1962 c. u. ANDERSON ETAL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INDICATING REGIST A ROTARY MULTICOLOR Filed June PRINTING MACHI l0 1 1959 CYLINDER CYLINDER 2 B a c 3 VIOLET l5 CYLINDER CYLINDER A GRAY INVENTOR?) J g- CHARLES u. ANDERSON 30 21 EDWARD w STANLEY ATTORNEY United States Patent METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INDICATING REGISTRATION IN A ROTARY MULTICOLOR PRINTING MACHINE Charles U. Anderson, Lancaster Township, Lancaster County, and Edward W. Stanley, Manheim Township, Lancaster County, Pa., assignors to Armstrong Cork Company, Lancaster, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed June 10, 1959, Ser. No. 819,480 6 Claims. (Cl. 101-211) This invention relates to an apparatus and method for indicating registration on a web in a rotary multicolor printing press. The invention is especially well suited for use in printing floor and wall coverings with rotogravure or fiexographic presses, but it is of value in rotary printing generally.

In most rotary printing machines, indication of registration is by means of lines printed on the selvage of the web, such as a pair of crossed lines printed by each of the cylinders which are to be registered. When proper registration has been effected, the lines are superimposed. These superimposed lines are difficult to observe at the speed of movement of the printed web through the machine. This is particularly true where a multiplicity of colors are being printed. Floor coverings are now printed on machines through which a 12' Wide web of material moves at a speed of about 100 to 200 per minute and four colors in addition to the base or coating color are applied by rotary printing cylinders.

An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus and method which will provide an indication of registration which may be readily observed even when the printing press is operating at high speed, in the order of 200 per minute, and which will indicate to the operator at a "ice tions are to be indicated, the indicium which is printed into the open grid by each cylinder to be registered is of the size and shape of the grid opening, at least in outline, and is provided with tolerance tabs which project therefrom, both in the direction of travel of the web and contra-thereto and transversely of the direction of travel of the web, i.e. along the axis of the cylinder, in two directions. Thus, deviations from proper registration will be observable, as noted above, and any deviation beyond the allowable tolerance will be observable in the form of an open area in the registration grid beyond one glance which of the printing cylinders, if any, is out of register.

In printing floor coverings and the like, it is desirable to provide an indication marking on the printed material which will show at a glance to an inspector the extent, if any, of a condition of improper registration which may exist as to any portion of the printed web of covering. Since there is always some allowance for minor deviations from exact registration, it is desirable also to incorporate into the indication marking a signal which will show when the extent of deviation exceeds the allowable tolerance.

Another object of the invention, therefore, is to provide an apparatus and method for presenting a repetitive indication of registration and deviations from proper registration within and outside of allowable registration tolerances.

According to the invention, one of the printing cylinders is arranged to print a register mark on the selvage of the goods, the register mark being in the form of a grid having a plurality of spaced apart openings therein, one for each of the other cylinders to be registered with the cylinder which prints the registration mark. Each of the other cylinders is arranged to print an indicium of the size and shape of a grid opening to fill the same at least in outline when the cylinders are in proper registration. Thus, deviation from proper registration will be observable in the form of an open area in one or more of the grids not completely filled in outline by the indicia.

In the embodiment where allowable tolerance deviaor more of the tolerance tabs.

In order that the invention may be readily understood, a number of embodiments thereof will be described in conjunction with the attached drawing, in which:

IGURE 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating an embodiment of the invention in a 4-cylinder rotary printing press;

FIGURE 2. is a diagrammatic view showing one printing cylinder of a press and a portion of a registration grid which it is arranged to print;

FIGURE 3 is a diagrammatic view similar to FIGURE 2 showing a second printing cylinder and a registration indicium which it is arranged to print;

FIGURES 4-10 are diagrammatic views showing various registration relationships between the grid of FIG- URE 2 and the indicium of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 11 is a diagrammatic view showing a modified grid and indicium arrangement, similar to the arrangement of FIGURES 2 and 3.

Referring to the embodiment of FIGURE 1, the first or A printing cylinder 2 of the press is arranged to print an open grid registration mark 3 on the selvage 4 of a strip of material, such as a web of asphalt saturated felt base, sealed and coated for receiving rotogravure or fiexographic printing, for example. For purposes of illustration, it will be assumed that the cylinder A is printing a light grey color of ink.

The grey-colored grid 3 is provided with a plurality of spaced apart grid openings 5, 6, and 7 therein. In the embodiments shown, these openings are of square shape.

The second or B printing cylinder 8 of the press is arranged to print an indicium 9 in one of the openings in the registration grid, in opening 5, in the embodiments shown in FIGURE 1. The indicium 9 is of the same size and shape as the grid opening and is arranged to completely till the grid opening when cylinders A and B are in proper registration. This has been indicated in FIGURE 1 where cylinder B is shown as printing with green to completely fill grid opening 5 and registration grid 3.

The third or C printing cylinder 10 is printing with brown ink and, like B printing cylinder, is provided with means for printing a square indicium 11 of the same size and shape as one of the grid openings, opening 6, as illustrated. In this instance, the C printing cylinder is out of registration with A cylinder in the direction of travel of the web, indicated by the arrow in FIGURE 1. Thus, the indicium 11 does not completely fill the grid openings; an open area 12 exists. The width of this area 12 indicates the linear extent of the out-of-registration condition which exists.

The fourth or D printing cylinder 13 is printing with violet-colored ink and, like cylinders B and C, is provided with means for printing a square indicium 14 of the same 3 size and shape as the grid opening 7' in the registration grid 3. In this instance, the D printing cylinder has been indicated as out of registration with A cylinder in a direction transversely of the direction of travel of the web or along the axis of the cylinder. Thus, the indicium 14 does not completely fill the grid opening and open area 15 indicates the extent by which printing cylinders A and D are out of register.

While it is preferred to have the first printing cylinder print the registration grid and the subsequent cylinders print indicia to fill the grid openings in regular order as illustrated in FIGURE 1, it will be clear that this is not essential. For example, it may be desirable when certain colors are being printed to print the registration grid with cylinder B over an indicium printed by cylinder A, with theindicium printed by cylinder A lying within grid opening 6. Generally, however, the regular order of FIGURE 1 will be found to be wholly acceptable.

While the arrangement shown in FIGURE 1 indicates the direction and extent of out of registration which may exist, it is sometimes desirable to be able quickly to determine the extent of out of registration without the use of a scale or other measuring device. For example, in rotogravure printed floor coverings, minor out of registration of various colors printed on the machine may be tolerated. In inspection of such floor coverings, the material is delivered from the roll over a long inspection table and inspectors examine the material on the table. It is desirable to provide the inspectors on each side of the inspection table, or at least one one side, with a readilyobservable indicator to show at a glance it the printing is out of registration beyond the allowable tolerance for the particular printed pattern being inspected. An arrangement for providing this is shown in FIGURES 2-10 of the drawing.

In FIGURE 2, cylinder A, numbered 16, is printing a registration grid 17 similar to grid 3 of FIGURE 1 (only one grid opening is shown in FIGURES 4-10).

Cylinder B,'numbered 18, of FIGURE 3, is printing an indicium 19. This indicium differs from the indicium printed by cylinder B of FIGURE 1. It has a main or body portion 20 which is square and of the same size as the grid opening 17 printed by cylinder 16. Four tolerance tabs, one pair 21 and 22 and another pair 23 and 24, extend from the main or body portion, tabs 22 and 23 projecting in a direction parallel to the direction of travel of the web being printed and tabs 21 and 24 projecting in a direction transversely of the direction of travel of the web or along the axis of the cylinder. In the indicium, the printed tabs actually are integral with the printed main body portion.

In the embodiments shown in FIGURE 3, the tabs project from opposite corners of the main body portion and are each of a length about equivalent to one-half of the length of each side of the square which constitutes the main body portion. The width of the tabs, that is the distance by which they project beyond the main body portion 20, is equal to the allowable out-of-registration tolerance. For example, with a particular pattern, the allowable extent of out of registration, both in the direction of travel of the web and transversely thereof, may be In such case, the tabs will be wide. In other patterns, greater or lesser tolerances may be allowable, and it is possible that in some instances a ditferent tolerance may be allowed along the direction of web travel than the allowable tolerance in a direction transversely of the direction of web travel.

FIGURE 4 shows the disposition of the indicium 19 in one opening in grid 17, with both cylinders A and B in proper registration.

FIGURE 5 shows the disposition of the indicium 19 in grid 17 with cylinders A and B out of registration in the direction of travel of the web but within the allowable tolerance. It will be noted that there is an open area 25 between the main body portion 20 of the indicium and 4 the grid 17 but that the printing of the tolerance tab 23 is disposed in abutting relationship with the grid.

FIGURE 6 shows the position of indicium 19 in grid 17 with cylinders A and B out of registration in the direction of web travel by an amount greater than the allowable tolerance. There is an open area 26 which extends not only along the main body portion 20 but also along the tolerance tab portion 23 so that the printing of the tolerance tab portion 23 is not disposed in abutting relationship with grid 17.

FIGURE 7 shows the position of indicium 19 in grid 17 with cylinders A and B out of registration in a direction transverse to the direction of web travel but within the allowable tolerance. There is an open area 27 which extends between the main body portion'20 of the indicium and the grid 17 but the printing of tolerance tab 21 is disposed in abutting relationship with the grid.

FIGURE 8 shows the indicium 19 in grid 17 with cylinders A and B out of registration in a direction transverse to the direction of travel of the web by an amount greater than the allowable tolerance. Here open area 28 extends along both the main body portion 20 and the tolerance tab portion 21.

FIGURE 9 illustrates a condition where cylinders A and B are out of register in both the direction of web travel and transversely thereof by an amount within the allowable tolerance. The opening 29 which extends along two sides of the body portion 20 does not extend along tolerance tabs 21 or 23, the printing of which is con- 'tiguous with the printing of the grid.

FIGURE 10 shows cylinders A and B to be out of register in both directions, as in FIGURE 9, but to an extent greater than the allowable tolerance. In this instance, the opening 30 extends along the body portion 20 and along both of the tolerance tabs 21 and 23 of the indicium.

In FIGURES 5-10, arrows have been used to indicate the direction or directions in which cylinders A and B are out of register. The conditions illustrated show cylinder B lagging cylinder A in FIGURES 5, 6, 9, and 10. It will be clear that if cylinder B is leading cylinder A, tolerance tab 22 will indicate such condition in the same manner as tolerance tab 23 indicates the lagging condi tion. Also, if cylinder B were out of register in an opposite direction to that illustrated in FIGURES 7 and 8, along the axis of the cylinder or transverse to the direction of web travel, tolerance tab 24 would indicate such condition instead of tolerance tab 21 which illustrates the condition existing in FIGURES 7 and 8.

It will be clear that each cylinder will print itsown indicium in its assigned grid opening. Preferably, the grid openings are positioned closely adjacent to one another so that the inspector may observe them all with a single glance. This is not essential, however, to practice the invention.

With an indication of the type provided by the modifications shown in FIGURES 2-10, the inspector can observe the registration grids and indicia, and if there be any open area beyond any one or more of the tolerance tabs, he can degrade the material. Since the registration grid and indicia are printed on the selvage on each revolution of the printing cylinders, the inspector can examine the registration grids and when the printing has been brought back into registration within the allowable tolerance, he can appropriately grade the material.

The printing press will, in most instances, be provided with automatic registration control devices or manual controls will be used. Where manual controls are used, the grid and indicia arrangement of the present invention will enable the press operator to make the necessary adjustments to correct for any out of registration of any roll which may occur. A quick glance at the registration grid will indicate the direction and extent of out of registration which may exist at any time.

While it is preferred to use indicia which are essentially of solid color, it will be clear that the central portion of the indicia may be open. Where it is stated that the indicium fills a grid opening, at least in outline, it is intended to include the essentially solid indicium and also an indicium which when positioned in proper registration in the grid opening will coincide with the lines defining the grid opening. Such an indicium is shown at 31 in FIGURE 11. Also, the grid opening need not be square. It should have four lines which are disposed substantially at right angles and parallel to the direction of web travel and at right angles thereto, as indicated at 32 and 33; 34 and 35 of the grid 36 in FIGURE 11. The term rectilinear has been used to describe such a figure and in cludes as well a square, a rectangle, etc.

Where automatic registration control is provided, the visual indication of registration of the invention, especially the embodiment where tolerance limits are shown, will be of value in product inspection, as in floor or wall covering printing with rotogravure printing presses, for instance.

We claim:

1. In a method of indicating registration of printing on a web with an allowable tolerance in a rotary multicolor printing press wherein a plurality of colors are successively printed on a web by a plurality of cylinders, the steps comprising printing with one cylinder an open grid indicium on the web and printing with another cylinder for registration with the grid of the first mentioned cylinder an indicium having a main portion of the outline of the open grid and having tolerance tabs extending from the main portion in directions parallel to the direction of web travel and transversely thereof, the width of said tabs in said directions being equal to the allowable registration tolerance to indicate proper registration when said grid opening is closed by said indicium, within allowable tolerance when said grid opening is closed by said indicium except in an area contiguous to said main portion, and beyond allowable tolerance when said grid is open in an area beyond any one of said tolerance tabs.

2. In a method of indicating registration of printing on a web with an allowable tolerance in a rotary multicolor printing press wherein a plurality of colors are successively printed on a web by a plurality of cylinders, the steps comprising printing on the selvage of said web with a first cylinder a registration mark in the form of a grid having a plurality of spaced apart rectangular openings therein extending along the direction of travel of said web, one opening being provided for each printing cylinder to be registered with the cylinder which prints the registration mark, printing with each of other cylinders an indicium having a rectangular main portion of the shape and size of the rectangular opening in the grid with which said indicium is to register and having four tolerance tabs, one projecting from each of the sides of said main portion, the width of each of said tabs being equal to an allowable registration tolerance and the length of each of said tabs being less than the length of the side of the rectangular main portion from which it projects, thereby to indicate proper registration when said grid opening is closed by said indicium, within allowable tolerance when said grid opening is closed by said indicium except in an area contiguous to said main portion, and beyond allowable tolerance when said grid is open in an area beyond any one of said tolerance tabs.

3. In a device for indicating registration of printing on a web with an allowable tolerance in a multicylinder rotary printing press wherein a plurality of colors are successively printed on a web by a plurality of cylinders, the combination of printing means on one of said cylinders of said press for printing on said Web an open grid registration mark and printing means on another one of said cylinders of said press for printing on said web an indicium having a main portion of the outline of the open grid and having tolerance tabs extending from the main portion in directions parallel to the direction of web travel and transversely thereof, the width of said tabs in said directions being equal to the allowable registration tolerance to indicate proper registration when said grid opening is closed by said indicium, within allowable tolerance when said grid opening is closed by said indicium except in an area contiguous to said main portion, and beyond allowable tolerance when said grid is open in an area beyond any one of said tolerance tabs.

4. In a device for indicating registration of printing on a web with an allowable tolerance in a multicylinder rotary printing press wherein a plurality of colors are successively printed on a Web by a plurality of cylinders, the combination of printing means on one of said cylinders of said press for printing on said web a registration mark in the form of a grid having a plurality of spaced apart rectilinear openings therein, one opening being provided for each printing cylinder to be registered with the cylinder which prints the registration mark, means on each of successive cylinders for printing an indicium having a rectilinear main portion and having four tolerance tabs, two of which project from opposite sides of said main portion in a direction parallel to the direction of web travel and the other two of which project from opposite sides of said main portion in a direction at right angles to the direction of web travel to provide opposite pairs of tabs which are disposed at right angles one to the other, the width of said tabs in said directions being equal to the allowable registration tolerance to indicate proper registration when said grid opening is closed by said indicium, within allowable tolerance when said grid opening is closed by said indicium except in an area contiguous to said main portion, and beyond allowable tolerance when said grid is open in an area beyond any one of said tolerance tabs.

5. In a device for indicating registration of printing on a web with an allowable tolerance on a multicylinder rotary printing press wherein a plurality of colors are successively printed on a web by a plurality of cylinders, the combination of printing means on one of said cylinders of said press for printing on the selvage of said web a registration mark in the form of a grid having a plurality of spaced apart rectangular openings therein disposed along the direction of travel of said web, one opening being provided for each printing cylinder to be registered with the cylinder which prints the registration mark, means on each of successive cylinders to be registered for printing an indicium having a rectangular main portion and having two pairs of tolerance tabs, one pair projecting from each of two opposite corners of said main portion and terminating in lines which are disposed substantially at right angles one to the other, parallel to the direction of web travel and transversely thereto, the width of each of said tabs being equal to the allowable registration tolerance and the length of each of said tabs being less than the length of the side of the main portion from which it projects to indicate proper registration when said grid opening is closed by said indicium, within allowable tolerance when said grid opening is closed by said indicium except in an area contiguous to said main portion, and beyond allowable tolerance when said grid is open in an area beyond any one of said tolerance tabs.

6. In a device for indicating registration of printing on a web with an allowable tolerance on a multicylinder rotary printing press wherein a plurality of colors are successively printed on a web by a plurality of cylinders, the combination of claim 5 in which the printing means of the first mentioned cylinder prints a registration mark in the form of a grid having a plurality of spaced apart square openings, two sides of which are parallel to the direction of web travel and in which the printing means on each of the cylinders to be registered with the first mentioned cylinder print an indicium having a square main portion of the outline of the grid openings and pairs of tolerance tabs whch project from opposite corners of 2,768,827 Noble Oct. 30, 1956 the main portion. 7 2,797,610 Coakley July 2, 1957 2,802,666 Crosfield Aug. 13, 1957 References Cited in the file of this patent 2,340,370 Noble June 4, 1953 5 HaCkel Ct al- Dec. 30,

2,203,706 Stockbarger June 11, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS 2,220,736 Stockbarger Nov. 5, 1940 846,403 Germany Aug. 11, 1952 

